Emerging Professionals Institute

Participants

Work: Mary Kay Peck is prinicipal of MKPeck Associates, a firm that specializes in planning and management services. Mary Kay brings 30 years of local government experience at the city, county and regional level to her practice. She also draws on her experience as an adjunct professor at St. Petersburg College. Mary Kay has 25 years experience as a planner and has served as a city manager and assistant city manager. She supervised one of the top rated development services center in the country and led a successful organization wide-sustainability effort. From 1996 to 2005, she served as Henderson (NV) Director of Community Development. She joined the city in February 1995 as Zoning Administrator. During her tenure with Henderson, its population increased from 116,482 in 1995 to over 265,000. Mary Kay previously served as Planning Director for Gallatin County (Bozeman), Montana for 12 years. Prior to that, she was employed as Executive Director of the Dundee (Ill.) Area Intermunicipal Planning Committee in the Chicago suburbs. While President of the American Planning Association, Peck laid the foundation for the organization's first communication plan and led its first membership growth strategy, resulting in a 23% increase. She previously served as an APA Board Member and Chair of the Chapter Presidents Council.

Education: Mary Kay has a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a bachelor’s degree in Urban Affairs from the University of Evansville, Indiana.

Past Assignments: Emerging Professionals Institute--APA National Conference and APA Florida state conference. Ethics Case of the Year--APA National Conference, APA Florida state conference and Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, Denver, CO. Best US Development Practices, Urumqi, China, 100 Foreign Experts Conference.

Frank D. DeSafeySequence

Work: One of the most well-known and recognized executive search consultants in the niche planning, housing and construction, environmental, and engineering industries in the United States and internationally, Frank DeSafey is the founding principal of Sequence Staffing. With more than 19 years of experience in these fields, he is especially known and highly respected for the success of the firm and has personally undertaken hundreds of high profile planning related search assignments over the years. In fact, he has earned accolades for his ability to find and fill the most challenging positions with exceptional candidates that have not only made immediate contributions to their new employer, but have helped redefine organization’s corporate cultures that has achieved greater productivity and efficiencies. Frank has also been a pioneer in the development and use of new electronic medium recruiting strategies and efforts. Sequence is the premier executive search and recruitment firm committed to providing employment solutions for the core enterprises responsible for planning, building and maintaining our nation's communities, infrastructure, natural resources, and environment. The organization has a long seated planning technical knowledgebase to address the industry’s growing demand to assist organizations in finding skilled and qualified personnel to achieve success. Just as important, our word is our bond; whether you are in the urbanized cities of North America and Europe, the savannas of Africa or newly industrialized frontiers of Southeast Asia, you can count on us to proudly stand behind our motto: “Sequence: Where a handshake still means everything.”

Work: “Everyone has a story so tell yours compellingly,” advises Craig Travis, leading personal branding and candidate marketing expert, especially known for his highly effective, commanding communication style that has been referred to “as bold as it is innovative.” Noted for his keen insight, creative approach and in-depth understanding of the emerging job market, he is particularly proficient defining candidates’ brands and successfully marketing clients to win the finest positions throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has redefined the way candidates are perceived and marketed, and is widely respected for helping candidates establish, build, market, and polish their brand to clearly stand apart from others. An accomplished writer, career planner and public speaker, Craig is the foremost creator for Sequence producing exceptionally powerful candidate marketing materials, including customized resumes, cover letters, biographical and professional profiles, project lists and portfolios, social media and web content, and other vital personal brand marketing materials for career-minded individuals in a wide array of occupations and industries. He is deservedly acknowledged for providing an exceptional level of service and expertise at Sequence in the recruitment, branding and marketing of candidates for the core enterprises responsible for planning, building and maintaining our nation's communities, infrastructure, natural resources, and environment. Craig previously held leadership positions with the U.S. House of Representatives, California State Assembly, Hawaii State House of Representatives, Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Hawaii, and the California Department of Insurance. He is also an avid LAA Angels baseball fan. Sequence is the premier executive search and recruitment firm committed to providing recruiting and personal branding solutions to the planning, environmental, GHG/climate change, sustainable energy, engineering, and construction industries throughout the United States and around the world.